Nursing, M.S.N., Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Concentration

Program Description

The Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) is offered through an affiliation with the Intercollegiate Consortium for a Master of Science in Nursing (ICMSN), and is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education and fully approved by the Louisiana State Board of Nursing. The curriculum is designed to prepare advanced practice nurses (nurse practitioners) in Family Health or Psychiatric/Mental Health. The program also offers a Nursing Education concentration that is designed to prepare nurses to teach in undergraduate nursing programs, and a Nursing Executive concentration to prepare nurse managers and administrators. The Master of Science in Nursing program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.

Degree Requirements

To earn the Master of Science in Nursing with a concentration in Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, the student must adhere to the following degree plan requirements:

• earn a minimum of 48-51 credit hours: Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner concentration
• attain a minimum of 600 precepted clinical hours
• satisfactorily complete a Focused Scholarly Project or Thesis
• earn no less than a “B” grade in all coursework
  • Note: Students who earn less than a “B” grade in a course will be required to repeat that course. A course may be repeated only once. Courses with a grade of “C” may not be applied toward the degree requirements.

Semester 1

• NURS 500 - Theoretical Foundations of Advanced Nursing 3 Credit(s).
• NURS 505 - Applied Statistics for the Health Sciences 3 Credit(s).
• NURS 517 - Pharmacotherapeutics for Advanced Practice Nursing 3 Credit(s).

Semester 2

• NURS 502 - Generating Evidence for Nursing Practice 3 Credit(s).
• NURS 507 - Health Assessment and Diagnostic Reasoning for Advanced Practice 3 Credit(s).
• NURS 508 - Diagnostic Considerations and Psychopharmacology for Psychiatric Disorders. 3 Credit(s). (Spring Only)

Semester 3

• NURS 509 - Population-Based Primary Care 3 Credit(s).
• NURS 518 - Pathophysiology for Advanced Practice Nursing 3 Credit(s).
• NURS 590 - Psychotherapy for the Advanced Practice Psychiatric Nurse 3 Credit(s). (Fall Only)

Semester 4

• NURS 591 - Advanced Nursing Practice: Psychiatric Mental Health I 5 Credit(s). (Spring Only)
• NURS 599 - Thesis Research and Thesis 3-9 Credit(s). *

• * All MSN students must complete either NURS 599 - Thesis Research and Thesis OR NURS 595 - Focused Scholarly Project. Students who elect to complete a thesis must earn 6 hours of NURS 599 applicable to the total credit hours required. Students who elect to complete a focused scholarly project must earn 3 hours of NURS 595 applicable to the credit hours required.

Semester 5

• NURS 592 - Advanced Practice Nursing: Psychiatric Mental Health II 5 Credit(s). (Fall Only)

•  

• NURS 595 - Focused Scholarly Project 3 Credit(s). *

• or

• NURS 599 - Thesis Research and Thesis 3-9 Credit(s). *

• *All MSN students must complete either NURS 599 - Thesis Research and Thesis OR NURS 595 - Focused Scholarly Project. Students who elect to complete a thesis must earn 6 hours of NURS 599 applicable to the total credit hours required. Students who elect to complete a focused scholarly project must earn 3 hours of NURS 595 applicable to the credit hours required.

Semester 6

• NURS 593 - Advanced Nursing Practice: Psychiatric Mental Health III 5 Credit(s). (Spring Only)
• NURS 581 - Business, Leadership and Health Policy for Nurse Practitioners 3 Credit(s).

Total: 48-51 Credits